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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be vague about an accessory I wear?

60 replies

CallMeExhausted · 15/01/2015 14:12

I wear a crocheted wristband that I made some time ago pretty much all the time... It isn't anything particularly special, but it has a number embroidered on it that is significant to me. I wear it as a reminder.

If ever anyone asks about it, I just say that the number is significant to me, but doesn't mean anything to other people, and leave it at that.

Yesterday, shortly after I was introduced to a friend of a friend, I was again asked about it - so I gave my standard answer. This woman would not let it go! She got quite irate when I wouldn't explain it fully to her - but frankly, she is a stranger to me and I will likely never meet her again. I could not see why she had to know, and her reaction was bizarre.

So, AIBU not to share the significance of it? It is personal (just a 3 digit number, not a date or anything) - and she didn't have a need to know.

Should I just hide the wristband away too, or answer anyone who asks?

OP posts:
Seriouslyffs · 15/01/2015 14:27

Well done- I like the number of kills answer!Grin

WowOoo · 15/01/2015 14:29

That is mysterious. Could you say it was the number of days you were 'inside' a tough prison in Belgium? You never want to go back there again.

SistersOfPercy · 15/01/2015 14:32

That's a fabulous idea and completely understandable why you want to keep it personal.

I have an elvish tattootattoo around my wrist and am very often asked what it says. I usually just say "oh, nothing" or "it's the one ring inscription". What it actually says is "I look inside my heart to find you" and it was done on the first anniversary of my Dads death. Talking about it can be upsetting so I lie.

Maybe just go for a simple it's my lucky number or the number of the house I was born in.

Original poster
CallMeExhausted · 15/01/2015 14:32

Wow no... It is my record for days on the outside Grin

OP posts:
SpicyBeat · 15/01/2015 14:33

YANBU - it's rude enough for a stranger to ask but not to leave it alone over your first answer is out of order. I don't see that you should have to cover it up to avoid nosy parkers if it is helpful to you to have it visible.

SparklyTwinkleGlitter · 15/01/2015 14:34

Fantastic idea CallMe. You should market them.

Just tell the nosey parkers it's the number of men you've had casual sex with before you found Jesus.

Jackie0 · 15/01/2015 14:41

Well done op and what a brilliant idea . Some people just can't take no for an answer and I would have found it quite satisfying to see her get wound up. Hopefully she looked back on that convo and realised she was being obnoxious Wink

TenMinutesEarly · 15/01/2015 14:47

What a fantastic idea. My friend carries a photo in her purse of her at her heaviest to motivate her. The lady was rude. Ignore.

Original poster
CallMeExhausted · 15/01/2015 14:52

I have to say, I am getting a huge chuckle out of the suggestions for what the number represents...

I've been off my feet for 6 weeks due to orthopaedic surgery - am finally getting my cast off in a couple of hours. I shudder to think what my activity level change has done to my weight.

I'll be back to the gym as soon as the ortho says I can go, but think I will stay away from the scales for a month or two.

OP posts:
hestialou · 15/01/2015 15:30

3,5,8 are part of Fibonacci code, so say it is that Smile

ScotsWhaHae · 15/01/2015 15:39

LIke tattoos, something like this lends itself to people asking about it. Just get a stock response ready for people if you aren't prepared to get into it.

Original poster
CallMeExhausted · 15/01/2015 15:42

The final digits on my phone number are part of the Fibonacci sequence, moreso than my wristband. I have always thought that was kind of cool.

OP posts:
DrownedReindeer · 15/01/2015 15:52

I like that, OP. Well done :)

MeanwhileHighAboveTheField · 15/01/2015 15:54

Say it is your pin number, then look puzzled when they point out it is only 3 digits.. Grin

FightOrFlight · 15/01/2015 16:01

No, YANBU. If you didn't want to tell her then she should have just let it go.

< does best David Blaine impression >

I'm going to say the number you are thinking of is ...

269

< walks off looking all mysterious >

TheListingAttic · 15/01/2015 16:02

I'm a nosey fecker, so would probably have asked what it meant - but I'd happily have taken your first answer as a polite invitation to mind my own beeswax!

If anyone pushes in future, how about looking furtively over your shoulder and hissing "We are NOT allowed to talk about it!"

Lucked · 15/01/2015 16:21

If you are good at crochet could you do it with the numbers in morse code, or just little dots and then imply it is a random pattern.

Well done btw and I like the idea of wearing a reminder.

Flossyfloof · 15/01/2015 16:22

Not rude to ask (although I wouldnt). Very rude to persist.
Please may I have the pattern?

Fatalatomo · 15/01/2015 17:01

Ooh I would have been polite but it would have killed me not to know but know that it was significant!

Well done op and very clever to have thought of such a simple way to keep the though process alive!

Just tell people it's a number you like your not sure why you just always have. Everyone has a number they seem to be drawn to sometimes for no apparent reason. For me it's 19.

Fatalatomo · 15/01/2015 17:10

Or say it's the exact number of peas needed for my famous award winning pea soup any less or more knocks the balance off Grin

Ooh ooh or it the age I will be when I die, my father/mother was a it means my life span is much longer than the mere mortals I have been forced to love with.

Haha

Fatalatomo · 15/01/2015 17:11

Live not love

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 15/01/2015 17:16

What a bloody good idea OP!! Do you mind if I copy you?

is it going to be easy to spot MNers from now on?

NorbertDentressangle · 15/01/2015 17:16

I love the idea of telling people it's the number of men you'd slept with before finding Jesus Grin

loveareadingthanks · 15/01/2015 17:21

What a clever idea.
your answer is fine. Shes just one of those nosy parkers who cant bear to be told no, its private. So what, let her suffer!
She was very rude to be unpleasant. If someone told me what you said id assume it related to something very personal, possibly a bereavement or memorial to someone, and mind my own business.
my exhusband got a tatoo with a number, I saw a photo on facebook. I got in touch as I recognised the number and was a little freked out by the surrounding tattoo, he explained his thinking, its fine. He got a lot of posts from people wanting to know what it meant and trying to guess and he just kept giving them really daft answers, like 'its the number of sharks ive wrestled' or 'its how many times ive swum the channel'. You could practise a comedy answer as a fuck off if people wont accept the first one.

carabos · 15/01/2015 18:02

I don't tell anyone my maiden name Grin. I've been married twice so my maiden name is a long ago irrelevance (and I'm estranged from my father). It drives people nuts I find, but I have no idea why.

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